Fo The Nataral Fino Jaca 
XXVI. Lquifetnm majus aquaticum. J.B, tom. 3. lib.36. p.729. Cat. p. 245. 
This was found in the Marfhes of famaica by Fames Farlow, who brought 
it fromthence. Dr. Sherard communicated it to me. 
Cuape: Il. 
Of Ferns or Capillary Plants. 
HE Tribe of Ferns in Jamaica are very numerous, and ftrange 
in their manner of growth. Many of them are Scandent, more 
than one white on the Back; fome have Truncs like other 
Herbs or Trees, and fome perfect Stalks. But whatever they 
are, they fhall by me be ranged as thofe of Europe are by 
Mr. Ray, according to the divifion of their Leaves : and whereas it is com- 
monly held that noFern, has, properly fpeaking, a Caulis or Stalk, yet it will 
hereafter plainly appear they have. To avoid a great deal of trouble in the 
difpofition of them, I fhall confider the Stalks of thofe climbing Ferns only as 
Roots. The divifions of the Leaf its felf arifing from fuch Stalk fhall deter- 
mine its place without having regard to this Stalk, which ought otherwife to be 
firft taken notice of in the divifion: Without doubt all hereafter named 
Ferns are fuch: only there are fix call Phyllitidi Scandenti Afines, which t 
am not {ure are Ferns, and therefore not having feen their Seeds, I give 
them this, till a better place is found. The name 7richomanes thall fig- 
nifie with me the fecond divided Fern with broad fimall Leaves, and the 
word Lonchitis thofe with longer, though they agree not in every particu- 
lar with the Ewropeans. The general divifions are, firft, thofe with undi- 
vided Leaves. Secondly, Thofe with once divided into Pinae only, then into 
thofe with the middle Rib, a Twig or Surcalus, and on it Pinnule, which I call 
Filices non Ramofe : and the third is the ramofe Kind. Many of thefe Ferns 
dre indented about the edge when young, and afterwards are plain with a 
ferrugineous Welt on the outfide, and fometimes they are finuated '; many 
other Varieties there are, appearing really differing Plants, which may be 
eafily found out by any, who confiders their feveral defcriptions. 
It is no great wonder that in fo great a number of new and frange Ferns 
as are mentioned in my Catalogue, and deferibed hereafter, I was put to 1c 
to find words, to defcribe fome of them. I think the terms [have made ufe 
of are very plain, though Dr. Plukenet is pleafed in ‘his Acnriffa p. 83. to 
find faule with one of them, viz. Surculws, and ‘to recommend in its 
place Ala. I continue to think that Word ‘more proper than the other, for 
’tis taken by the beft, and even pureft Writers, for the Germen Annotinum, 
or yearly Sprout or Twig, to which are contiguous ‘the Leaves of Trees. 
Now if any Word can be fitter to fignifie the laft divifion of the Stalk of 
a Fern, to which the Pinaule or leaves are faften’d, I leave any body to 
judge. The Word Ala ‘is ufed by the beft Herbarifts in many, and 
very incertain fignifications, and even When it is applied to the wings or 
Leaves of Ferns, is fomtimes taken for the Pinze, or Leaves themfelves, 
fometimes for what I call the Twig or Sureulus, and fometimes for the 
whole Ramulus or Branch, fo that it would have been very confounding, 
and not have explained fufficiently my meaning. ThefeWords are fo often 
ufed here, and the Cuts of the Ferns, either figured elfewhere, or eis 
ook 
a 
oh 
¥ 
